Alcohol more dangerous to women

Water retention

Levels of blood alcohol content (BAC) differs around the time of a woman’s menstrual cycle as the body retains more fluid.  On average women have between 10 and 15 percent more water content than men and during their period, water retention is even higher.

According to Professor Denis Viljoen, Chairperson of the Foundation for Alcohol Related Research (FARR), the alcohol molecules can enter the brain within half an hour and when there are higher amounts of water in the body, the effects of alcohol are longer lasting.  

“As women have higher levels of water in the body than men, they are already more susceptible to the effects of alcohol.  Coupled with increased or decreased water retention during different times of the menstrual cycle, women need to be even more aware of the amount of alcohol they consume,” says Viljoen.  

Even though men and women may drink the same amounts of alcohol, a woman’s BAC will be much higher due to their bodies metabolising alcohol differently.

Other physiological differences include height, weight and the health effects.